July 12, 2007
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Windsor, Day One
Can I just say that I am really, really tired? I’ve never traveled anywhere to experience jet lag. I thought it would be a one or two day thing. But, here it is, four days into our trip, and I am still exhausted at 8:30, asleep by 10:00, and waking up the next morning at 9:00! I wanted to take a nap today, but when the elevator alarm went off for the second time, I gave up. Yet, spare me no pity for my fatigue, though. I am still in England!
This is not Windsor Castle. It’s another nifty brick building in Reading.
TGD and I had our usual huge breakfast yesterday morning (love that warmed tomato–really!). He headed to the math conference, and I blogged. We met up at 1:00 for a conference-sponsored trip to Windsor. We thought it was to Windsor Castle, but our £9 fee only covered the bus trip. It was £12.80 more per person to get into the castle. However, this guarantees us a year’s admissions, so we won’t have to pay again when we come with the children! Huzzah!
Some Official Guard Person and TeacherPerson
Did a lamp ever look so royal?
I bought some new shoes for this trip, an “I love comfort” sort of shoe. They are black pumps and were extremely comfortable when I wore them around the house. Let’s just say that after 20 minutes of “hard walking,” I had a two-inch blister on my pinkie toe. It’s not quite de rigeur to walk in sock feet through Windsor Castle, so I kept them on. Didn’t want to be a boorish American!
Real, live arrow slits are along the main entrance walk to the castle. From outside–
And inside. (Yes, I waited to shoot until I had someone in my sights. What kind of soldier would I be otherwise?)
Windsor Castle is built with its central tower on a high mound. They’ve landscaped the almost vertical slope with waterfalls and a lovely garden.
The castle was huge and lovely, although I did not enjoy it as much as I should. I am so spoiled by American movies! This was the real deal–real gold, original paintings, ancient suits of armor (even King Henry VIII’s!), but I’ve seen similar things in movies and wasn’t as awed as I should have been. Sigh. What a calloused soul I am.
Flowers abound!
Queen Elizabeth actually lives at this castle two months every year. It was interesting to note the partially rolled-up rugs which would be unrolled when visitors weren’t following the velvet ropes on tours. We were not allowed to photograph anything inside–the state apartments, Queen Mary’s Doll House, etc, so all my pictures are of the exterior. There were actual military folk training on the green. They were behind us when this picture was taken.
I plan to catch the train and go back this afternoon. I didn’t get to see all of the castle, or St. George’s Chapel, or take a walk across the Thames to Eton College. Plus, there were loads of touristy shops there with low prices which will be perfect for trinkets and such. But first, I must stop blogging!Rapunzel, Rapunzel! Let down your hair!
Or your garden sprinkler. Whatever.
Comments (21)
Wow.. Awesome pictures.. Interesting thing about the arrow slits.. It is not that often I seen it in anywhere.. Me likey the waterfall/garden picture.. It’s beautiful..
I love all the pictures and am trying harder than ever not to be too jealous!
Love the blue flowers (I wonder what they are?) and the arrow slits -from both sides, no less. I left a comment on your earlier post.
Nine pounds for a bus trip??? What is that, about eighteen dollars? Sounds like a lot. I must be a rube, but Windsor Castle is how far from Reading?
I do so love the play by play…. I feel like I’m exploring England along with….. if only…
The castles are amazing.
That is what you call a royal lamp.
wow! those are some gorgeous pictures!
About my pictures, I didn’t do anything special. I just went to weblog entry, uploaded my pictures, and made them either smaller or larger on the text section. I’m sorry, I’m not really explaining this all too well, but it’s extremely simple. I didn’t have to use a certian mode or program or anything. I hope that helped a bit.
Have a wonderful rest of your trip!
It looks so lovely! I hope you catch up on some rest and enjoy the rest of your trip. Trying not to be jealous, trying not to be jealous, trying not to be jealous…
Stunned sigh. So very beautiful. Here in America we have everything but that royal history and amazing castles. I hope your trip is going perfect!!
Love the pictures. That’s so awesome!
Awwwwsome! You’re in England! *grins* So niffty. Have the time of your life, not like you need my encouragement for that….^_^
And yeah, I read those Peter Pan books. I confess I didn’t like them all that much….though they were a little entertaining. It was kind of like reading blasphemy….
Mary, I enjoy hearing about your trip! Reading your blog is my daily highlight! I am glad you are having such a nice time. Looking forward to more……Thile
Mary,
You do sound like you’re having fun
Love your pictures. God bless you sweetie.
Beautiful pics! Keep them coming!
Arrow slits? How cool is that– to actually see them (OLD ONES). Still wondering about the sprinkler….. If you couldn’t take inside pics, did they have some to sell? Often places like that do.
That sixth picture is gorgeous!!
Love it, love it! You have a good eye for what photos to take!
Interesting, interesting. Just to judge by the look of it, I would guess Winsdor to have been built somewhere between the mid 15th and early 16th centuries. Or it was at least renovated at that time. Am I right? I like to guess at these things from time.
Ah, how lovely. Is the weather as mucky and rainy as i’ve heard tell about England? Oo, the queen! With all that splendor, it’s hard to comprehend the fact the J.K. Rowling has more money than she….
That is so cool!
And JK Rowling deserves it!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
you do take wonderful pictures! We went to the ulmers the other night and I was remembering when we first met them and you – at a popcorn/poetry night. U’s had 4 kids and you had all 5 and I was pregnant with my first. It was all rather overwhelming. It’s nice to be an overwhelming family now.